Protection of human rights

Abstract

In 2004, the protection of human rights—civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural—remained a major focus of UN activities. Follow-up activities advanced during the year to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), adopted by the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The Intergovernmental Working Group mandated to make recommendations for effective implementation of DDPA proposed measures to promote tolerance and combat discrimination, and considered ways to strengthen the implementation of existing international human rights instruments and to prepare complementary standards. To further strengthen international cooperation for protecting indigenous peoples’ rights, the General Assembly, while welcoming the achievements made during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (1995- 2004), proclaimed a second International Decade, with effect from 1 January 2005.